Conversation: 919-021
Prev:  919-020 Next: 919-022Start Date: 16-May-1973 11:49 AM
End Date: 16-May-1973 12:34 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:49 am and 12:34 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 919-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 919-21 Date: May 16, 1973 Time: Unknown between 11:49 am and 12:34 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Watergate -G. Bradford Cook -President’s previous conversation with John B. Connally -Testimony before Ervin Committee -Resignation -Robert L. Vesco -President’s reaction -William J. Casey -Leonard Garment’s forthcoming investigation -Vesco -Possible resignation -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman President’s previous meeting with Connally -Secretary of State appointment -Henry A. Kissinger -Connally -Timing -European summit -Possible target for Democrats -Connally’s schedule -Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit to US -Hunting trip -Texas -White House staff -Need for new faces -John C. Whitaker -Ronald H. Walker -Cook -33- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. September-2012) Conversation No. 919-21 (cont’d) -Bernard J. (“Bunny”) Lasker -Jerry H. Jones’s list Personnel appointments and management -Haig’s schedule -Cook’s resignation -President’s previous meeting with Connally -Ronald L. Ziegler -Possible role on White House staff -Compared with Ehrlichman -Scheduling and public relations [PR] -John A. Scali’s telephone call to Haig -Ziegler -Possible replacement -Robert J. McCloskey -Service to William P. Rogers -Ambassadorship -Ziegler -Possible replacement -Robert B. Semple, Jr. -Kenneth W. Clawson -Credibility -Scali’s view -John W. Dean, III President’s meeting with Connally -Cabinet -George P. Shultz -Import surcharge -Grain prices [?] Presidency -Possible resignation -Impeachment -Public opinion -Views of press corps -Congress -34- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. September-2012) Conversation No. 919-21 (cont’d) -Resignation -New York Times Watergate -Dean -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. -White House response -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters -Testimony -Memoranda of conversation [memcons] -William E. Colby’s possible testimony -Dr. James R. Schlesinger’s possible testimony -Walters -Testimony -Memcons -National security -Cook -Replacement -Press coverage -Popular reaction -Confidence in government -Support for President -Haig’s travels -Lyndon B. Johnson’s leaving office -President’s possible resignation -Guilt -Vesco -White House reaction Personnel management and appointments -Ziegler’s role on White House staff -Haig’s role on White House staff -President’s manager -PR -Spokesperson -Transition -Timing -35- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. September-2012) Conversation No. 919-21 (cont’d) -Scali -Emotion -Appointment -Ziegler -Credibility -Transition -Replacement -Scali -Contributions -Loyalty Watergate -Elliot L. Richardson -Connally’s opinion -Conversation with Haig, May 15 -Special Prosecutor -Confirmation -Special Prosecutor -Special Prosecutor -Warren M. Christopher -Partisanship -Possible White House actions -Christopher -“Kennedy Democrat” -Possible actions -Richardson’s selection process -Ervin Committee’s input -Cook -Dean’s documents -Diplomatic cables -Ngo Dinh Diem -Bay of Pigs Haig left at an unknown time before 12:34 pm. -36- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. September-2012)